The Siloam Springs football program has had plenty of players sign to play at the next level in recent years, but none to the extent of how many that signed on Wednesday.
Five Panthers signed letters of intent with four different schools inside the Panther Activity Center.
Linemen Parker Hall and Aric Sislo both signed with Hendrix, while lineman Kris Green inked with Lyon College. Linebacker Gus Wright made it official with Arkansas-Monticello, and safety Coby Roach signed with Southwestern Assemblies of God (Texas).
"I don't know that we've ever had five, so that's obviously a good thing," said Siloam Springs football coach Bryan Ross. "It's kind of bittersweet because you've seen these kids grow up and all these came through our program. One of the good things about coaching, particularly high school, is you get to see them grow up from kids to men. You enjoy that and feel like they're kind of part of your own family. You get to see them take that and go to the next level. You hate to lose them, but that's part of what we do."
Sislo and Hall will both join Hendrix, located in Conway, after committing to the school last month.
Sislo, an All-State selection in 6A as a junior and All-Conference as a senior, played on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Panthers (4-6) in 2015. Sislo will likely play defensive line for the Warriors.
"They're getting a real good football player," Ross said. "Their coaches told me they're happy that they're getting him. With Hendrix being a top-notch academic school, both he and Parker are getting a first class education."
Sislo said he loved the campus and facilities at the school, but he said another factor was Hendrix graduates boast a 98 percent acceptance rate into dental school.
"That was the selling point," Sislo said, "to get a good education like that and be able to do what I wanted to do after that."
Hall started every game at center and was the deep snapper for the Panthers. He'll likely work at deep snapper with Hendrix.
"Parker loves football and it's pretty awesome that he's going to get a chance to play at the next level," Ross said.
Hall has spent time during the last few summers and offseasons at deep snapping camps throughout the region. He said he's excited for the chance to play at the next level. Hall was an All-Conference honorable mention selection.
"I got a call from the coaches one day, and they heard that I was wanting to play football, and I said absolutely," Hall said. "They wanted me to come down and visit, and I finally did, and I absolutely loved the campus."
Green was also an All-Conference honorable mention selection after missing more than half the season with a torn ACL. Green injured his knee in Week 4 at Conway, but he was able to get braced up to play in the last two games of the season.
"When you look at Kris, he's probably not big enough or strong enough, but I tell you what he's got, he's got a heart and a motor that never stops," Ross said. "You think about a kid that completely tears his ACL, gets that cleaned up and plays the last two games of the year braced up. That tells you everything you need to know right there."
The soft-spoken Green said he had minor surgery in Week 7 to get his knee in playable shape for the rest of the year, before having complete ACL replacement surgery over Thanksgiving break.
"I talked to the doctor and got it done as soon as I could so I could at least come back for two more games to try and be a motivation to lower grades that go through injury," Green said.
Wright was an All-Conference selection and two-way starter for the Panthers at tight end and linebacker.
"Gus put in a lot of work, dedicated himself both on the football field and soccer field," Ross said. "He's really developed and became a big part of our program the last two years, so we're definitely happy for him."
Arkansas-Monticello offered Wright a scholarship after he went to their camp in January. He said he'll likely play outside linebacker for the Boll Weevils. Wright finished the season with 20 solo tackles and 48 assisted tackles.
Roach was another two-way starter for the Panthers, leading the team in receiving with 33 receptions for 356 yards and making 31 solo tackles, 61 assisted tackles and three interceptions.
Roach has played at the varsity level since he was a sophomore.
"He showed he was able to play in the 7A-West as a sophomore and showed us what we could expect the next two years and he delivered," Ross said. It's hard to replace those two-way guys like that."
Roach said he's looking forward to joining the SAGU football program.
"They've got a great coaching staff, great teammates," Roach said. "It's going to be a family, a close team. We're going to have fun together."
Sports on 02/07/2016